National
| Median wages (2008) |
$50,020 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
219,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Faster than average (14% to 20%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
92,000 additional employees |
25-2041.00 - Special Education Teachers, Preschool, Kindergarten, and Elementary School
Teach elementary and preschool school subjects to educationally and physically handicapped students. Includes teachers who specialize and work with audibly and visually handicapped students and those who teach basic academic and life processes skills to the mentally impaired.
Sample of reported job titles:
Special Education Teacher, Resource Teacher, Teacher, Preschool Special Education Teacher, Intervention Specialist, Exceptional Student Education Teacher (ESE Teacher), Early Interventionist, Teacher of the Handicapped, Early Childhood Special Education Teacher (EC Special Education Teacher), SED Elementary Teacher (Severe Emotional Disorders Elementary Teacher)
Tasks
- Instruct students in academic subjects using a variety of techniques such as phonetics, multisensory learning, and repetition to reinforce learning and to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
- Modify the general education curriculum for special-needs students based upon a variety of instructional techniques and technologies.
- Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their resource needs.
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, and professionals to develop individual educational plans designed to promote students' educational, physical, and social development.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records and prepare reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Adaptive communication switches for the physically challenged — Jellybean switches; Sound switches |
| Braille devices for the physically challenged — Braille slates; Braille styluses |
| Emergency medical services first aid kits — Emergency first aid kits |
| Game pads or joy sticks — Head operated joysticks; Mouth operated joysticks |
| Sand or water tables or activity centers — Sand tables; Water tables |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Computer based training software — Children's educational software; Text to speech software |
| Data base user interface and query software — Data entry software |
| Electronic mail software — Email software; Microsoft Outlook |
| Graphics or photo imaging software — Computer graphics software |
| Word processing software — Microsoft Word |
